Contra Costa Ballet Centre

For over 50 years, the Contra Costa Ballet Centre has stood as a beacon of classical ballet excellence in Walnut Creek, California. Recognized as one of the most prominent classical ballet schools in the state, it serves as a top-tier destination for aspiring dancers and adult enthusiasts across the Bay Area. Whether you're a seasoned dancer seeking rigorous training or an adult looking to reignite a passion for ballet from the "Back to Basics," this esteemed institution offers unparalleled instruction. With a profound commitment to developing students from their very first encounters with music and movement into accomplished dancers, Contra Costa Ballet Centre prides itself on a proven system that helps every individual grow to their best abilities. The school is celebrated for its highly professional, dedicated, and enthusiastic instructors who impart a wealth of wisdom and knowledge, ensuring a truly enriching and transformative experience for every student, fostering both technique and a lifelong appreciation for the art of ballet.

The Contra Costa Ballet Centre is conveniently located at 2040 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, USA. This prominent address places the school in a highly accessible and central part of Walnut Creek, making it an ideal destination for residents throughout Contra Costa County and the wider East Bay. Situated on North Broadway, the studio is easy to locate and offers straightforward access for students and their families. While specific parking details should always be confirmed, major dance centers in urban areas like Walnut Creek often have or are near readily available parking options. Furthermore, Walnut Creek is a hub for public transportation in the East Bay, with the BART station providing excellent connectivity from San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and other regional cities. Its proximity to major roadways, including I-680 and Highway 24, also ensures convenient commutes for those driving from surrounding communities such as Lafayette, Concord, Pleasant Hill, and Danville. This strategic and accessible location allows Contra Costa Ballet Centre to attract and serve a diverse student body, all drawn by the promise of world-class classical ballet training.

Contra Costa Ballet Centre offers a comprehensive range of classical ballet programs and classes, meticulously designed to cater to various ages, skill levels, and aspirations, ensuring a rich and rewarding dance education.

• Children's Division (Ages 3.5 - 6 for Fall, Ages 4-7 for Summer): This introductory division focuses on developing fundamental coordination, musicality, and a love for dance in the youngest students through creative movement and pre-ballet classes.

• Student Division (Ages 7-18): This core program provides rigorous classical ballet training across multiple progressive levels (often seven levels of achievement). The curriculum is designed to introduce correct technique and instruction appropriate for the age and physical development of the student, preparing them for advanced studies or professional careers.

• Open Division (Adult & Teen Drop-In Classes): This division caters to adult and teen dancers of all levels, offering drop-in classes for flexibility. This includes:

  • Beginning and "Back to Basics" Ballet: Specifically designed for adults with no prior dance experience or those returning to ballet, focusing on proper positions and fundamental techniques. Hiroko's classes are highly praised for being truly tailored for adult beginners, with genuine care for each student's form.

  • Ballet Barre: A traditional warm-up focusing on strengthening and conditioning the body through barre exercises like pliés, tendues, and rond de jambes, emphasizing technique and strength for all levels.

  • Ballet Center Steps: Progressing from barre work, these classes focus on center floor exercises, including adagio, petite allegro, turns, and basic grande allegro steps, building confidence away from the barre.

  • Intro to Pointe: A specialized class for those ready to begin pointe work.

  • Contemporary Dance: Exploring modern dance styles and techniques.

  • Tap Dance: Offered at various levels (Pre-Tap, Tap 1, Tap 2, Tap 3).

  • Broadway Dance: A fun class featuring musical and dance styles that change weekly, incorporating single steps and choreographed combinations, beneficial for musical theatre actors.

  • Dance Conditioning: Focusing on strength, flexibility, and overall physical preparedness for dance.

  • Styles (Hip Hop, Commercial Dance): Youth drop-in options are available for these contemporary styles.

• Summer Intensive Program: An immersive program for ages 7-18, providing focused training during the summer months.

• Contra Costa Ballet Company & Performances: The Centre's highest level of achievement, this pre-professional company offers performance opportunities in professionally produced shows, including the beloved annual Nutcracker and Spring Repertory performances at the prestigious Lesher Center for the Arts. Students perform classical works and exciting new pieces, sometimes alongside professional dancers.

Contra Costa Ballet Centre is distinguished by a multitude of features and highlights that underscore its half-century legacy of excellence in classical ballet training.

• World-Class and Highly Credentialed Faculty: The school boasts an "international faculty with extensive teaching and performing experience." Instructors are described as having "impressive credentials," being "very professional, dedicated & enthusiastic about passing along wisdom & knowledge." Many hail from prestigious companies like American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet, and the Royal Ballet, bringing unparalleled expertise directly to their students.

• Authentic and Rigorous Classical Training: Contra Costa Ballet Centre is renowned for providing "the highest level of training possible" through an "American syllabus" that "takes the best of the Russian and Italian schools" (Cecchetti and Vaganova systems). This ensures a thorough and well-rounded classical ballet education.

• Proven System for Student Growth: As highlighted by The Wilson family, the school "has a proven system in helping dancers grow to their best abilities," leading to significant progression in technique and classical training for students. Instructors, like Hiroko, "genuinely care about each student’s form and takes the time to correct our poses and steps," demonstrating patience and understanding.

• Inclusive and Supportive Environment: Despite its professional rigor, the school fosters a welcoming atmosphere. Adult beginners, in particular, praise classes like "Beginning and Back to Basics Ballet" for being "truly tailored for adult beginners," making them feel "so glad I found Hiroko’s classes." The school aims to be very inclusive and does not discriminate, judging only by "one's work ethic, desire and merit."

• Exceptional Performance Opportunities: Students have the unique opportunity to perform in two professionally produced shows each year—the annual Nutcracker and the Spring Repertory—at the prestigious Lesher Center for the Arts. These performances allow dancers to showcase their skills, sometimes alongside professional dancers, gaining invaluable stage experience. The Nutcracker alone attracts over 4,500 attendees annually.

• Focus on Holistic Development: Beyond dance technique, the school is committed to instilling important life lessons, emphasizing professionalism, punctuality, and a strong work ethic, which serve students well regardless of their future career path.

• Strong Alumni Network: Alumni of Contra Costa Ballet Centre have gone on to become leaders in the dance field, populating companies throughout the United States, attesting to the quality of training received.

For those interested in enrolling or learning more about the Contra Costa Ballet Centre, please use the following contact information:

Address: 2040 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, USA

Phone: (925) 935-7984

Mobile Phone: +1 925-935-7984

For locals in Walnut Creek and across the California Bay Area, the Contra Costa Ballet Centre is an exceptionally suitable and highly recommended institution for classical ballet training. Its suitability stems from its long-standing legacy of over 50 years, coupled with a genuine commitment to providing the "highest level of training possible" from "world-class teachers." For young aspiring dancers, the structured progression through Children's and Student Divisions ensures comprehensive technical growth, preparing them for potential professional careers or collegiate programs. As The Wilson family attests, their daughters are "thriving in technique & have progressed extremely well in their classical training." For adults, finding a true "Beginning and Back to Basics Ballet" class can be challenging, but Contra Costa Ballet Centre, particularly with instructors like Hiroko, fills this void perfectly, offering patient, understanding, and form-focused instruction that can truly "reignite passion for ballet." The convenience of its central Walnut Creek location on N Broadway, easily accessible by car and public transport, makes regular attendance feasible for families and individuals from surrounding communities. Moreover, the unparalleled performance opportunities at the prestigious Lesher Center for the Arts provide invaluable stage experience and a highlight for both students and the community. By choosing Contra Costa Ballet Centre, locals are not just enrolling in a dance school; they are joining an institution that nurtures talent, instills discipline, and fosters a deep appreciation for classical ballet in a supportive and professional environment. This makes it an ideal choice for anyone in the California region seeking a serious yet inspiring classical dance education.

Contra Costa Ballet Centre

2040 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, USA